Agitating apparatus



Nov. 22, 1966 M. MANNA AGITATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1965 FIG.!

LEE M. MANNA Nov. 22, 1966 M. MANNA AGITATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1965 Nov. 22, 1966 L. M. MANNA 3,286,994

AGITATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,286,994 AGITATING APPARATUS Lee M. Manna, Morton Grove, Ill., assignor to General American Transportation Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 430,066

Claims. (Cl. 259-435) The present invention relates to agitating apparatus that may be employed in mixing equipment; and it is a general object of the invention to provide improved such agitating apparatus that accommodates desired adjustment of the speed-torque relationship of the agitator shaft thereof, while employing an electric drive motor of fixed horsepower, and that requires no complicated transmission gearing, or other expensive torque converter device.

Another object of the invention is to provide agitating apparatus of the character described, wherein the desired adjustment mentioned is accomplished by selecting one of a given number of drive pinions constituting a set, by then securing the selected one drive pinion to a drive shaft, and then by rotating the eocentrically mounted drive shaft to cause it to move the one drive pinion secured thereto into meshing relation with a fixed driven gear secured to a driven shaft; whereby the ratio of the speed reduction between the drive shaft and the driven shaft is in fact, established by the selection of the selected one drive pinion, since the individual pinions constituting the set mentioned have different numbers of teeth about the circumferences thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide agitating mechanism of the character described, wherein the construction and arrangement of the apparatus is such that the changing of a drive pinion on the drive shaft may be readily and simply accomplished, without the necessity of elaborate tools.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the agitating apparatus, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational veiw, partly in section, of a vat in which a mixing or agitating operation is being carried out and of agitating apparatus embodying the present invention and employed in carrying out the operation mentioned;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view, partly broken away, of the agitating apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sideelevationa l View, partly in section, of the agitating apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged side view in section of a drive unit incorporated in the agitating apparatus, as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged lateral sectional view of the drive unit, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 55 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a further enlarged bottom view of the drive unit, as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. I, there is shown a vat 10 containing a mass of material 11 that is to be mixed or agitated; which vat 10 carries removable agitating apparatus 20 embodying the features of the present invention and esesntially comprising an upstanding composite housing, including lower and intermediateand upper sections 21, 22 and 23 suitably secured together, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. An upstanding substantially cylindrical bore 24 is formed in the upper right-hand portion of the intermediate housing section 22, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4; and removably arranged in the bore 24 is a drive unit 30, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6.

More particularly, the unit comprises an upstanding substantially cylindrical barrel 31 that nicely fits into the bore 24 and that is rotatable therein, when in place therein. The top of the barrel 31 terminates in radially outwardly directed annular flange 32; and an upstanding annular sleeve 33 projects Well above the flange 32. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the axes of the barrel 31 and the sleeve 33 are respectively indicated at 31z and 331; wherein the axes 31z and 331 are substantially vertical and thus parallel to each other with a lateral offset (of a distance X) therebetween; whereby the barrel 31 and the sleeve 33 are eccentric with respect to each other for a purpose more fully explained below. An upstanding cylindrical cavity 35 is provided within the barrel 31; which cavity 35 is disposed concentric with the sleeve axis 33z. An upstanding cylindrical cavity 36 is provided within the sleeve 33; which cavity 36 is disposed concentric with the sleeve axis 332. An upstanding cylindrical cavity 37 is provided jointly in the bottom of the sleeve 33 and in the top of the flange 32; which cavity 37 is disposed concentric with the sleeve axis 332; and which cavity 37 communicates between the top of the lower cavity 35 and the bottom of the upper cavi y 36.

An upstanding drive shaft 38 is mounted for rotation within the cavities 35, 36 and 37 and is supported jointly by a lower roller bearing device 39 arranged in the top of the lower cavity 35 and by an upper roller bearing device 40 arranged in the bottom of the upper cavity 36. The longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 38 is disposed concentric with the sleeve axis 331; whereby the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 38 is thus laterally offset (by the distance X) from the barrel axis 312. The lower end of the drive shaft 38 projects exteriorly of the lower cavity 35; and the upper end of the drive shaft 38 projects exteriorly of the upper cavity 36. The top of the sleeve 33 is closed by a cover 41 that is removably secured in place by an annular series of cap screws 42. The upper end of the drive shaft 38 projects upwardly to the exterior of the upper cavity 36 through a centrally disposed opening 43 provided in the cover 41; and the annular space between the upper end of the drive shaft 38 and the adjacent surface of the cover 41 within the opening 43 is filled by an annular packing gland 44. The lower portion of the drive shaft 38 carries an enlarged annular collar 45 adjacent to the lower end of the barrel 31; and the annular space between the collar 45 and the lower end of the barrel 31 is filled by an annular packing gland 46. The lower end of the drive shaft 38 disposed below the collar 45 is provided with a cylindrical arbour 47 of reduced diameter with respect to the collar 45; and. the extreme lower end of the drive shaft 38 disposed below the arbour 47 is provided with a threaded section 48.

The drive unit 30 further comprises a set of pinions having different diameters and corresponding different numbers of teeth about the circumferences thereof; which set comprises five pinions, in the present example, that respectively comprise l7, l8, 19, 20 and 21 teeth about the circumferences thereof. Only the particular or individual pinion having 17 teeth about the circumference thereof is illustrated; whereby this illustrated pinion is designated 17T in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6. Specifically, the pinion 17T is removably secured in place upon the arbour 47 by an adjacent clamping washer 49 and an associated nut 50 carried by the threaded section 48; whereby the pinion 17T isclamped in place against the adjacent shoulder defined by the collar 45.

In view of the above description, it will be understood that the other pinions, not shown, in the set mentioned, are identical to the pinion 17T illustrated, except they have progressively increasing diameters'to accommodate the progressively increasing numbers of teeth (18, 19, 20 and 21) about the respective circumferences thereof. Also, it will be appreciated that any one of the pinions in the set mentioned may be removably secured in place upon the arbour 47 and employing the clamping washer 49 and the associated nut 59. Of course, the selection of any one of the pinions in the set mentioned effects a selection of .a corresponding predetermined reduction ratio of the gearing in the apparatus 20, as explained more fully below.

Before proceeding further with the description of the drive unit 30, reference is made to FIG. 3, wherein there is shown an upstanding driven shaft 60 mounted for rotation upon the housing sections 22 and 23, the upper and lower ends of the driven shaft 60 being respectively supported by corresponding upper and lower roller bearing devices 61 and 62. The axis of the driven shaft 60 is substantially vertical and thus in laterally ofiset and parallel relation with the axes 31z and 332. Specifically, the lateral offset between the axis of the driven shaft 60 and the barrel axis 311 is fixed, while the lateral offset between the axis of the driven shaft 60 and the sleeve axis 332 is variable depending upon the rotary position of the barrel 31 within the bore 24, as explained more fully below; and in passing it is reiterated that the axis of the drive shaft 38 is coincident with the sleeve axis 312, so that the lateral offset between the axis of the driven shaft 60 and the axis of the drive shaft 38 is also variable and dependent upon the rotary position of the barrel 31 within the bore 24. The lower portion of the driven shaft 6%) carries a gear 63 rigidly secured thereto and arranged in alignment with the pinion 17T and disposed in meshing relation therewith. In the present example, the gear 63 carries 59 teeth about the circumference thereof.

In view of the above it will be understood that the ratios of speed reduction between the driveshaft 38 and the driven shaft 60 may be preselected. at: 17/59, 18/59, 7

19/59, 20/59 or 21/ 59 depending upon the particular pinion in the set that is preselected and secured upon the arbour 47 of the driveshaft 38. The highest ratio of speed reduction is preselected when the smallest pinion 17T is preselected and secured to the arbour 47; which example is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, as previously noted. After the desired. pinion 17T is preselected and secured in place upon the arbour 47 employing the .elements 49 and 50, as previously explained, the unit 3% as a whole is placed in operative position with respect to the intermediate housing section 22, the barrel 3-1 being inserted into the bore 24. The drive unit 30, as a whole, is first rotated into the proper angular position relative to the intermediate housing section 22, and after insertion of the lower end of the barrel 31 into the bore 24, prior to full insertion of the barrel 31 into its final position in the bore 24, as shown in FIG. 4. This manipulation of the lower end of the drive unit 30 is necessary by virtue of the fact that there are final angular positions of the barrel 31 that are required to effect proper meshing of the 5 individual pinions in the set mentioned. To achieve this coordination 5 individual slots 175, 188, 198, S and 215 are provided about the cylindrical outer surface of the barrel 31 that are centered about the barrel axis 312, as shown in FIG. 6. The 5 slots 178, etc., re spectively correspond to the 5 pinions 171", etc., in the reviously mentioned set; and the 5 positions of the 5 slots 178, etc., are coordinated with reference to the 5 required eccentricities of the 5 slots 178, etc., in 'view of the 5 different numbers of teeth provided, about the circumferences of the respective 5 individual pinions 17T, etc. A common key 51 is provided that may be placed in any one of the 5 slots 178, etc., and secured in place by a cooperating screw 52; which key 51 cooperates with a 4 fixed slot 248 provided in the side of the bore 24.. In the present example, the key 51 is secured in place in the corresponding slot 178 provided in the barrel 31 by the screw 52,.since the slot 178 is individual to the pinion 17T that is secured in place upon the arbour 47 at this time. Ofcourse, the unit 30 is'rotated to cause the key 51 secured in place in the slot 178 to register with the slot 245 formed in the side of the bore 24; whereupon the unit 33 is pressed downwardly into its final operative position, causing the key 51 to lock the barrel31 against rotation in the bore 24 and with reference to the intermediate housing section 22, and causing the pinion 17T to mesh the gear 63 so as operatively to connect the drive shaft 38 to the driven shaft 60.

Further, an upstanding agitator tube is rotatably mounted jointly in the intermediate and upper housing sections 22 and 23 by an arrangement including a lower roller bearing device 71 disposed in the bottom of the upper housing section 22 and an upper roller bearing device 72 disposed in the top of the upper housing section 22. In the arrangement, the lower portion of the agitator tube 70 projects down into the'lower. housing section 21 and the top of the agitator tube 70 terminates just below' the top of the upper housing section 23. A gear 73 is rigidly aflixed to the intermediate portion of the agitator 5 tube 70; a pinion 64 is rigidly aflixed to the upper portion of the driven shaft 60 above the gear 63; and the pinion 64 and the gear 73 are arranged in alignment and meshing relation with each other. Thus, the axis of the agitator tube 79 is disposed in substantially parallel laterally off-set relation with the axis of. the driven shaft 60. In the present example, the pinion 64 has 15 teeth about the circumference thereof and the gear 73 has 99 teeth about the circumference thereof so that the reduction ratio between the speeds of the driven shaft 60 and the agitator tube 79 is 15/99.

The top of the agitator tube 76 is closed by a cap 74;

and the lower portion of the agitator tube 70 projects wall of the intermediate housing section 22. The annular space between the lower portion of the agitator tube 70 and the wall of the annular opening 75 is closed by a sealing gland 76. An elongated upstanding agitator shaft is arranged within the agitator tube 70 and projects downwardly out of the lower end of the agitator tube 70 and out of the lower end of the lower housing section 21. The agitator shaft 80 is secured to the agitatortube 70 by a key 81 arranged in an opening provided in the Wall of the lower portion of the agitator tube 70 and projecting radially inwardly into an elongated spline 82 formed in the outer surface of the agitator shaft 80. Thus, the key-spline 81-82 accommodates longitudinal movements of the agitator shaft 80 within the agitator tube 70 with the axes of the elements 76 and 80 in concentric relation, but prevents relative rotation of the elements 7t and 80.

An elongated upstanding screw is arranged in the upper portion of the upper housing section 23 and ,concentric with the axis of the agitator shaft 80. The upper end of the screw 90 is rotatably mounted in a collar 91 provided in a centrally disposed opening formed. in the cap 74, and the lower end of the screw 90 is disposed in threaded engagement with an elongated upstanding threaded opening 33 provided in the upper central portion of the agitator shaft 80.- The extreme outer end of the screw 90 carries a hexagon-shaped head 92 that maybe rotated with a wrench, or the like, to cause rotation of the screw 90 and the consequent axial movement of the agitator shaft 80 within the agitator tube 70; whereby the lower end of the agitator shaft 80 may be moved selectively toward or away from the bottom of the lower housing section 21. A cover 93 is removably secured to the top of the upper housing section 23 by an annular series of screws 94; and a threaded plug 95 is removably secured in place in a centrally located threaded opening 96 provided in the cover 93. Thus, by removal of the plug 95 the head 92 is rendered accessible from the exterior of the upper housing section 23, thereby to accommodate adjustments, as desired, of the longitudinal position of the agitator shaft 80 within the agitator tube 70. The extreme lower end of the agitator shaft 80 carries an impeller or agitator 84 that is normally immersed in the material 11 contained in the vat and that is to be mixed, as previously noted.

Reconsidering the overall speed reduction of the composite gear train incorporated in the apparatus 20, it will be understood that the maximum reduction figure is /59X or which figure is about U 23. On the other hand, the minimum reduction figure is 2 9X 9 or which figure is about 1/ 18.5.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper end of the upper housing section 23 carries a bracket 101 to which a bracket 102 is pivoted by a pin 103; which bracket 102 is movable about the pivot pin 103 to effect relative adjustment of the position of the bracket 102 with respect to the bracket 101 by a bolt 104 carried by the bracket 102 and extending through an opening formed in the bracket 101, the outer end the the bolt 104 carrying a nut 105; all as shown in FIG. 2. In turn, the bracket 102 carries an electric motor 110 that is provided with a downwardly projecting operating shaft 111, the axis of the operating shaft being arranged substantially in vertical alignment with the axis of the drive shaft 38. The extreme upper end of the drive shaft 38 and the extreme lower end of the operating shaft 111 are operatively interconnected by a coupling device 120. Specifically, the coupling device 120 includes two cooperating coupling elements 121 and 122 respectively rigidly secured to the adjacent ends of the shafts 38 and 111; and the coupling device 120 is especially designed to effect a proper drive connection between the coupling elements 122 and 121, notwithstanding substantial misalignment between the shafts 111 and 38 in a known manner. In order to minimize this misalignment between the two shafts 111 and 38 the arcuate position of the bracket 102 may be adjusted with respect to the bracket 101 about the pivot pin 103, as previously explained. At this point it is noted, the source of the misalignment of the shafts 111 and 38 resides in the eccentric adjustment of the drive shaft 38 incident to the rotation of the barrel 31 in the bore 24, as required in view of the particular selected one of the 5 pinions 17T, etc., in the set mentioned, that is secured to the arbour 47, as previously explained. However, this misalignment between the shafts 38 and 111 can be greatly minimized by proper adjustment of the arcuate position of the motor 110, as explained above. In any case, the adjustment of the arcuate position of the motor 110 prevents any problem in conjunction with small misalignment between the shafts 111 and 38 by virtue of the characteristic of the coupling device 120. Also, the pivotal mounting of the brackets 101 and 102, at the pivot pin 103, accommodates complete pivotal movement of the motor 110 in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, as per mitted by the coupling 120, so that the motor 110 may be moved out of interfering relation with the removal of the unit 30 from the bore 24 in the intermediate housing section 22, when it is necessary to change one of the pinions 17T, etc, in the set mentioned, in the manner described above. Further in this connection, it is pointed out that when the unit 30 occupies its normal mounted position within the bore 24, it is securely fastened in place by a cooperating clamping ring 130, that engages the flange 32 carried between the elements 31 and 33 of the unit 30; which clamping ring 130 is removably secured in place by an annular array of cap screws 131, as shown in FIG. 3.

Again referring to FIG. 3, it is pointed out that the composite housing of the agitating apparatus 20 is normally arranged in upstanding position, whereby the lower portion of the intermediate housing section 22 defines an oil reservoir containing a body 141 of lubricating oil. An annular flange 142 is carried by the bottom wall of the intermediate housing section 22 and disposed in surrounding relation with the lower portion of the agitator tube 70, the flange 142 projecting upwardly in the reservoir 140 and extending into an annular recess 73a provided in the lower portion of the gear 73. At this point it is noted that the gear 73 is rigidly secured to the agitator tube 70 by a cooperating key 143, as shown in FIG. 3. The bearing device 71 is secured in place to the upper housing section 23 by cooperating lower and upper clamping rings 144 and 145; and the bearing device 72 is secured in place to the upper housing section 23 by a lower annular shoulder 146 carried internally of the upper end of the upper housing section 23 and by an upper clamping ring 147. The upper portion of the upper housing section 23 is closed by an annular packing ring 148 arranged between the shoulder 146 and the agitator tube 70.

A lower opening 151 is provided in the bottom wall of the intermediate housing section 22 in alignment with the lower end of the driven shaft 60; which opening 151 is normally closed by an associated removable cover 152 that is normally secured in place by an annular array of cap screws 153. Similarly, an upper opening 154 is provided in the upper housing section 23 in alignment with the upper end of the driven shaft 60; which opening 154 is normally closed by an associated removable cover 155 that is normally secured in place by an annular array of cap screws 156. Thus, in the arrangement: the bearing device 62 that supports the lower end of the driven shaft 60 is supported in the opening 151 provided in the intermediate housing section 22, and the bearing device 61 that supports the upper end of the driven shaft 60 is supported in the opening 154 provided in the upper housing section 23. Accordingly, the bearing devices 61 and 62 are accessible from the exterior upon removal of the respectively associated covers 155 and 152.

Again referring to FIG. 4, the lower bearing device 39 is clamped in place between the collar 45 carried by the lower portion of the drive shaft 38 adjacent to the pinion 17T and a radially inwardly projecting annular ledge 161 provided within the flange 32 and through which the opening 37 extends. The upper bearing device 40 is clamped in place between the annular ledge 161 and a clamping ring 162 carried by the drive shaft 38, the clamping ring 162 being secured in place by a clamping nut 163 engaging a threaded section 38a provided upon the upper portion of the drive shaft 38.

The agitating apparatus 20 is portable in the sense that it may :be readily placed and removed with respect to its operative position upon the vat 10, but it is not ordinarily conveniently carried by a single individual, since in a practical embodiment thereof the motor 1'10 was of 30 horse-power and of the .polypliase induction type. The agitator shaft 80 was 4" in diameter; the top of the upper horusintg section 23 stood 34 /2 above the top of the lower housing section 21; the distance between the center line of the agitator shaft 80 and the centerline of the driven shaft 60 was approximately 10'; the intermediate housing section 22 had the approximate dimension 20 x 2 x 7%"; and the dimensions of the other elements of the apparatus 20 were in the approximate scale of the drawings.

In view of the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided agitating apparatus of improved construction and arrangement that accommodates desired adjustment of the speed-torque relationship of the agitator shaft thereof, employing an electric drive motor of fixed horsepower, and requiring no complicated transmission gearing, or other expensive torque converter device.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended the axis of said bore, an upstanding drive shaft mounted in saidbarrel for rotation therein about its own axis disposed in substantially parallel laterally offset relation with the axis of said barrel and provided with an outer end projecting to the exterior of said housing, an upstanding driven shaft mounted in said housing for rotation therein about its own axis disposed in substantially parallel laterally offset relation with the axis of said bore, a set of pinions having different diameters and respectively corresponding different numbers of teeth about the circumferences thereof, means for removably securing in place upon said drive shaft any one of said pinions in said set and having a corresponding desired number of teeth about the circumference thereof, a gear rigidly secured in place upon said driven shaft and arranged in lateral cooperating relation with said one pinion secured in place upon said drive shaft, whereby rotation of said barrel in said bore causes said one pinion to move laterally with respect to said gear so that said one pinion may be moved into proper meshing relation with said gear, means for securing said barrel in place in a corresponding rotary position in said bore when said one pinion is in proper meshing relation with said gear, whereby one predetermined reduction ratio between the speeds of said drive shaft and said driven shaft is established by securing said one pinion in said set to said drive shaft and whereby other predetermined reduction ratios between the speeds mentioned may be established by securing other of said pinions in said set to said drive shaft, motor means carried by said tho-using, an operative connection between said motor means and the outer end of said drive shaft, an agitator shaft mounted in said housing for rotation therein about its own axis and provided with an outer end projecting to the exterior of said housing, speed reduction mechanism connecting said driven shaft to said agitator shaft, and an agitator carried by the outer end of said agitator shaft.

2. Agitating apparatus comprising a housing having an upstanding cylindrical bore formed therein, an upstanding cylindrical barrel removably arranged in said bore, said barrel when arranged in said bore being mounted for rotation therein about its own axis disposed concentric with the axis of said bore, an upstanding drive shaft mounted in said barrel for rotation therein about its own axis disposed in substantially parallel laterally offset relation with the axis of said barrel and provided with an outer end projecting to the exterior of said hon-sin an upstanding driven shaft mounted in said housing for rotation therein about its own axis disposed in substantially parallel laterally olfset relation with the axis of said bore, a set of pinions having different diameters and respectively corresponding different numbers of teeth about the circumferences thereof, means for removably securing in place upon said drive shaft any one of said pin-ions in said set and having a corresponding desired number of teeth about the circumference thereof, a gear rigidly secured in place upon said driven shaft and arranged in lateral cooperating relation with said one pinion secured in place upon said drive shaft, whereby rotation of said barrel in said bore' causes said one pinion to move laterally with respect to said gear so that said one pinion may be moved into proper meshing relation with said gear, means for securing said barrel in place in a corresponding rotary position in said bore when said one pinion is in proper meshing relation with said lgear, whereby one predetermined reduction ratio between the speeds of said drive shaft and said driven shaft is established by securing said one pinion in said set to said drive shaft and whereby other predeterm-ined reduction ratios between the speeds mentioned may be established by securing other of said pinions in said set to said drive s'ha'ft,'a bracket movably mounted upon said housing, a drive motor carried by said bracket 7 and provided with an upstanding operating shaft and positioned above the outer end of said drive shaft, a coupling device connecting said motor operating shaft and the outer,

end of said drive shaft, movement of said bracket relative to said housing accommodating adjustment of the axis of said motor operating shaft to a position of substantial alignment with the axis of said drive shaft when said barrrel is secured in place in its rotary position in said bore,

means for securing said bracket in place in its adjusted position relative to said housing, an agitator shaft mounted 1 in said housing for rotation the-rein about itsown axis,

and provided with an outer end projecting to the exterior of said housing, speed reduction mechanism connecting said driven shaft to said agitator shaft, and an agitator carried by the outer end of said agitator shaft.

3. Agitating apparatus comprising a housing having an upstanding cylindrical bore formed therein, an upstanding cylindrical barrel removably arranged in said bore, said barrel when arranged in said bore being mounted for rotation therein about its own axis disposed concen trio with the axis of said here, an upstanding drive shaft,

mounted in said barrel for rotation therein about its own axis disposed in substantially parallel laterally offset relation with the axis of said barrel and provided with an,

outer end projecting to the exterior of said housing, an upstanding driven shaft mounted in said housing for rotation therein about its own axis disposed in substantially parallel laterally offset relation with the axis of said bore,

a set of first pinions having different diameters and respectively corresponding different numbers of teeth about the circumferences thereof, means for removably securing in place upon said drive shaft any one, of said first pinions in said set and having a corresponding desired number of teeth about the circumference thereof, a first gear rigidly secured in place upon said driven shaft and arranged in lateral cooperating relation with said one first pinion secured in place upon said'drive shaft, whereby rotation of said barrel in said bore causes said one first pinion to move laterallywith respect to said first gear so that said one first pinion may be moved into proper meshing relation with said first gear, means for securing said barrel in place in a corresponding rotary position in said bore when said one first pinion is in proper meshing relation with said first gear, whereby one predetermined reduction ratio between the speeds of said drive shaft and said driven shaft is established by securing said one first pinion in said set to said drive shaft and whereby other predetermined reduction ratios between the speeds mentioned may be established by securing other of said first pinions in said set to said drive shaft, motor means carried by said housing, an operative connection between said motor means and the outer end of said drive shaft, an agitator shaft'mounted in said housing for rotation therein about its own axis and provided with anouter end projecting to the exterior of said housing, a second pinion rigidly secured in place upon said driven shaft, a second gear rigidly secured in place upon said agitator shaft and arranged in meshing relation with said second pinion, and an agitator carried by the outer end of said agitator shaft.

4. Agitating apparatus comprising a housing having drive shaft mounted in said barrel for rotation therein about its own axis disposed in substantially parallel laterally offset relation with the axis of said barrel and provided with an outer end projecting to the exterior of said housing, an upstanding driven shaft mounted in said housing for rotation therein about its own axis disposed in substantially parallel laterally offset relation with .the axis of said bore, a set of pinions having diferent diameters and respectively corresponding different numbers of teeth about the circumferences thereof, means for removably securing in place upon said drive shaft any one of said pinions in said set and having a corresponding desired number of teeth about the circumference thereof, a gear rigidly secured in place upon said driven shaft and arranged in lateral cooperating relation with said one pinion secured in placeupon said drive shaft, whereby rotation of said barrel in said bore causes said one pinion to move laterally with respect to said gear so that said one pinion may be moved into proper meshing relation with said gear, means for securing said barrel in place in a corresponding rotary position in said bore when said one pinion is in proper meshing relation with said gear, whereby one predetermined reduction ratio between the speeds of said drive shaft and said driven shaft is established by securing said one pinion in said set to said drive shaft and whereby other predetermined reduction ratios between the speeds mentioned may be established by securing other of said pinions in said set to said drive shaft, motor means carried by said housing, an operative connection between said motor means and the outer end of said drive shaft, an agitator tube mounted in said housing for rotation therein about its own axis, speed reduction mechanism connecting said driven shaft to said agitator tube, an agitator shaft arranged within said agitator tube and provided with an outer end projecting to the exterior of said housing, mechanism cooperating between said agitator tube and said agitator shaft for accommodating longitudinal movements of said agitator shaft relative to said agitator tube and for preventing relative rotation of said agitator tube with respect to said agitator shaft, and an agitator carried by the outer end of said agitator shaft.

5. Agitating apparatus comprising a housing having an upstanding cylindrical bore formed therein, an upstanding cylindrical barrel removably arranged in said bore, said barrel when arranged in said bore being mounted for rotation therein about its own axis disposed concentric with the axis of said bore, an upstanding drive shaft mounted in said barrel for rotation therein about its own axis disposed in substantially parallel laterally offset relation with the axis of said barrel and provided with :an outer end projecting to the exterior of said housing, an upstanding driven shaft mounted in said housing for rotation therein about its own axis disposed in substantially parallel laterally offset relation with the axis of said bore, a set of pinions having difierent diameters and respectively corresponding different numbers of teeth about the circumferences thereof, means for removably securing in place upon said drive shaft any one of said pinions in said set and having a corresponding desired number of teeth about the circumference thereof, a gear rigidly secured in place upon said driven shaft and arranged in lateral cooperating relation with said one pinion secured in place upon said drive shaft, whereby rotation of said barrel in said bore causes said one pinion to move laterally with respect to said gear so that said one pinion may be moved into proper meshing relation with said gear, means for securing said barrel in place in a corresponding rotary position in said bore when said one pinion is in proper meshing relation with said gear, whereby one predetermined reduction ratio between the speeds of said drive shaft and said driven shaft is established by securing said one pinion in said set to said drive shaft and whereby other predetermined reduction ratios between the speeds mentioned may be established by securing other of said pinions in said set to said drive shaft, motor means carried by said housing, an operative connection between said motor means and the outer end of said drive shaft, an agitator tube mounted in said housing for rotation therein about its own axis, speed reduction mechanism connecting said driven shaft to said agitator tube, an agitator shaft arranged within said agitator tube and provided with an outer end projecting to the exterior of said housing, mechanism cooperating between said agitator tube and said agitator shaft for accommodating longitudinal movements of said agitator shaft relative to said agitator tube and for preventing relative rotation of said agitator tube with respect to said agitator shaft, an agitator carried by the outer end of said agitator shaft, and mechanism for selectively adjusting the longitudinal position of said agitator shaft within said agitator tube, thereby selectively to adjust the longitudinal spacing of said agitator with respect to said housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 863,612 8/1907 Krieger 74-325 1,799,100 3/1931 Keil 74--397 2,775,903 1/1957 Reed 74--397 2,926,542 3/ 1960 Schmitter et al 74396 X FOREIGN PATENTS 890,020 2/ 1962 Great Britain.

WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner. 

1. AGITATING APPARATUS COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING AN UPSTANDING CYLINDRICAL BORE FORMED THEREIN, AN UPSTANDING CYLINDRICAL BARREL REMOVABLY ARRANGED IN SAID BORE, SAID BARREL WHEN ARRANGED IN SAID BORE BEING MOUNTED FOR ROTATION THEREIN ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS DISPOSED CONCENTRIC WITH THE AXIS OF SAID BORE, AN UPSTANDING DRIVE SHAFT MOUNTED IN SAID BARREL FOR ROTATION THEREIN ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL LATERALLY OFFSET RELATION WITH THE AXIS OF SAID BARREL AND PROVIDED WITH AN OUTER END PROJECTING TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING, AN UPSTANDING DRIVEN SHAFT MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR ROTATION THEREIN ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL LATERALLY OFFSET RELATION WITH THE AXIS OF SAID BORE, A SET OF PINIONS HAVING DIFFERENT DIAMETERS AND RESPECTIVELY CORRESPONDING DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF TEETH ABOUT THE CIRCUMFERENCES THEREOF, MEANS FOR REMOVABLY SECURING IN PLACE UPON SAID DRIVE SHAFT ANY ONE OF SAID PINIONS IN SAID SET AND HAVING A CORRESPONDING DESIRED NUMBER OF TEETH ABOUT THE CIRCUMFERENCE THEREOF, A GEAR RIGIDLY SECURED IN PLACE UPON SAID DRIVEN SHAFT AND ARRANGED IN LATERAL COOPERATING RELATION WITH SAID ONE PINION SECURED IN PLACE UPON SAID DRIVE SHAFT, WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID BARREL IN SAID 